Blockchain For Impact Hosts Inaugural Summit at the UN on Frontier Technologies to Power the SDGs

22 Oct 2018

Over 400 innovators, social entrepreneurs and investors came together to co-create innovative solutions to accelerate progress on the Global Goals

Blockchain for Impact (https://blockchainforimpact.org/), hosted its inaugural event in NYC on June 4th, 2018 at the United Nations, and brought together over 400 innovators, entrepreneurs and investors to support concrete initiatives to accelerate progress on the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).

On Monday June 4, 2018, Blockchain Commission for Sustainable Development, its commissioners in attendance and its founding members were proud to launch Blockchain for Impact (BFI), a collaborative convening, advocacy and action platform designed to serve the growing community of conscious leadership reflecting the full breadth of the global blockchain ecosystem as it seeks to engage with leaders from the UN system.

Throughout the day, leaders came together to launch the first Blockchain for Impact Subcommittees addressing the following topics:

The Opening of the Summit featured a number of senior officials from the United Nations who highlighted the importance of blockchain and other frontier technologies to advance the Sustainable Development Goals.

The President of ECOSOC, Her Excellency Madam Marie Chatardová, underscored the commitment of the Economic and Social Council to harness the immense potential of frontier technologies for the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development. She welcomed this important and exciting dialogue and pointed out that “Blockchain technology stands out with its transformative potential in a very wide array of applications, including digital finance, cryptocurrency and climate coin, to name a few.”

Mr. Navid Hanif, Director of Financing for Sustainable Development Office, welcomed the work of Blockchain Commission for Sustainable Development, highlighting that new technologies are already having an enormous impact on sustainable development financing, including access to financial services, mobile money, and efficient fiscal policy. He encouraged participants to find the right balance between supporting the digitalization of the financial system and maintaining its stability and integrity, stating, ‘We invite you to bring your expertise and knowledge to bear on financing the SDGs in an inclusive, secure and innovative manner.’

Ms. Michelle Gyles-McDonnough, Director, Sustainable Development Unit in the Executive Office of the Secretary-General, stated that “the UN must be nimble and effective, flexible and efficient, and use all available means, including new technologies, to achieve sustainable development outcomes contemplated in this transformative agenda. A key element of the Secretary-General‘s vision is that the UN and partners leverage the power of frontier technologies, including blockchain, for a quantum leap to grow economies, reduce inequalities, and increase the opportunities for marginalized populations around the world.”

H.E. Mr. Juan Sandoval, Ambassador, Permanent Mission of Mexico to the United Nations and Co-Chair of the UN STI Forum 2018, in welcoming this important event, stated that it comes at a perfect time when the UN is hosting its 3rd Annual Forum on Science, Technology, and Innovation. He explained the direct linkages between STI and the work of Blockchain for Impact in advancing the SDGs, and also highlighted the leadership role of Mexico in this rapidly emerging sector.

Mr. Henri Dommel, Director of Inclusive Finance at UNCDF, shared his thoughts on how financial inclusion lends itself to using the power of digital finance, including blockchain, to provide access to the unbanked, including SMEs.

“We were truly honored to have so many amazing people in the room, deeply committed to supporting the UN's 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development,” commented Amir Dossal, President, Global Partnerships Forum & Vice-Chair, Blockchain Commission, during opening remarks. “Thank you for your passion and for your commitment to implement Secretary-General António Guterres’ vision to help the underprivileged around the globe!”

Members of Blockchain for Impact (BFI) were invited to participate in an exciting series of impact-oriented events and task forces—not just during the summit, but throughout the year. Through the Commission, Blockchain for Impact members will engage with leaders from UN Member States and UN agencies on industry governance, regulatory standards, and social impact projects. Members will work closely with those leading the SDGs and supporting UN efforts—through its Funds, Programs and Specialized Agencies—to apply blockchain technology to sustainable development and humanitarian challenges.

Hazami Barmada and Erin Dunne of the Global People’s Summit and Alexandra Bettencourt with UNDESA at the Blockchain for Impact Summit.

Keynote by JASON KELLEY, General Manager, Blockchain Services, IBM.

“Today we are sitting at one of the most important times in human history; the imperative for action around the advent of new technology is not only an opportunity but our responsibility,” stated Sergio Fernandez de Cordova, Chairman, PVBLIC Foundation & Vice-Chair of Blockchain Commission for Sustainable Development to the full room. “It is time to start building technology with purpose, heart, and conscience that is scalable globally.”

“The differentiating level of success of BFI was a direct result of the passion and commitment of the diverse representation of participants across geographies, UN Officials, regulators, legislators innovators, disruptors and humanitarians,” announced, Vincent Molinari, Chairman, 5th Element Fund & Vice-Chair, Blockchain Commission for Sustainable Development. “Blockchain and smart contracts have the ability to exponentiate the delivery of global humanitarian good in just a few years.”

MAJA VUJINOVIC, CEO, O Group, participating in a panel discussion on the evolution of regulation at the Blockchain for Impact Summit at the UN on June 4, 2018.

SUSAN OH, Founder & CEO, MKR AI and ANN GREENBERG of Entertainment AI participating on a panel about how blockchain and tokenomics impact AI and other frontier techs at the Blockchain for Impact Summit at the UN on June 4, 2018.

Delegates at the Blockchain for Impact Summit at the UN on June 4, 2018, worked together to formulate the vision, mission and mandate of newly launched topical subcommittees.

Delegates from the private and public sectors engaged in deep discussions about how to best develop effective partnerships that would bring blockchain technology to the impact space at the Blockchain for Impact Summit at the UN on June 4, 2018.

“We are truly grateful to the hundreds of delegates who participated in the Blockchain for Impact summit,” stated Amir Dossal, expressing his gratitude to the assemblage, while wrapping up the closing session. “Their leadership work in moving the needle from talk to action through innovative collaboration will no doubt inspire many others to do more for our common humanity. Thank You!”

Closing Speech, MR. DENNIS KUCINICH, former U.S. Representative from Ohio at the Blockchain for Impact Summit at the UN on June 4, 2018.

Closing remarks and acknowledgments were then provided by Mr. WILLIAM KENNEDY, Officer in Charge, UN Office for Partnerships and MR. DENNIS KUCINICH, former U.S. Representative from Ohio. Delegates were then treated to attend a follow-up celebration on a dinner cruise along the Manhattan waterfront circling the Statue of Liberty with special remarks from Ms. VIKTORIIA PIRUMOVA of Decenturion.

Mr. Kennedy, whose Office serves as the UN’s Gateway for Partnerships, thanked participants for their time and commitment to the mission of the United Nations, “We have a dream and this is it - this is the dream for a new UN, you all represent that and Blockchain for Impact. The entire marketplace is here, and I am profoundly grateful for this!

Leaders from United Nations, Member States, and leading executives from across sectors shaped the narrative, mission and mandate of the first Blockchain for Impact Summit at the UN on June 4, 2018, encouraging delegates to embrace a brighter future looking building technology for good.

Special insights into the perspectives of the public sector and the UN ecosystem were provided by MR. ULISES GÓMEZ NOLASCO, Deputy Attorney, Fiscal Investigation of the Ministry of Finance and Public Credit of Mexico; MINIVA CHIBUYE, Economic Affairs Officer, United Nations Office of the High Representative for LDCs, LLDCs and SIDS (UN-OHRLLS); MARINA PETROVIC, UNDP AltFinLab; and, GREG SCOTT, Inter-Regional Advisor, Global Geospatial Information Management, United Nations Statistics Division, Department of Economic and Social Affairs (UNSD).

Rousing and informative keynotes were also provided by ROSTIN BEHNAM, Commissioner, U.S. Commodity Futures Trading Commission; GENERAL WESLEY K. CLARK (RET.), former Supreme Allied Commander of NATO, Europe; and MR. DENNIS KUCINICH, former U.S. Representative from Ohio.

Blockchain for Impact (BFI), is a collaborative convening, advocacy and action platform designed to serve the growing community of conscious leadership reflecting the full breadth of the global blockchain ecosystem as it seeks to engage with leaders from the UN system.

BFI is a collaborative advocacy and action platform representing the full breadth of the global blockchain ecosystem focused on bringing the Blockchain community together to help solve many of the most pressing issues of our day, building on the Sustainable Development Goals (SDG) as a framework for the future of impact.

Members of Blockchain for Impact (BFI) are invited to participate in an exciting series of impact-oriented events and task forces throughout the year. Through the Commission, Blockchain for Impact members will engage with the United Nations system on industry governance, regulatory standards, and social impact projects, working closely with the UN Departments, Funds, Programs and Specialized Agencies, to apply blockchain technology to sustainable development and humanitarian challenges.

About the Blockchain Commission:

The Blockchain Commission for Sustainable Development was established in the margins of the 72nd Session of the United Nations General Assembly in 2017 to develop a multi-sectoral framework to support the UN system — along with Member States, Intergovernmental Organizations, the private sector and civil society — in utilizing blockchain-based technologies to develop local, national and global solutions for the most pressing issues of our day.

The Blockchain Commission envisions the development of radically creative decentralized solutions to issues including; conservation of natural resources, protection of the commons, economic growth, empowerment of all communities, financial inclusion and security, public health and welfare, civic trust and protection of the integrity of democratic systems — among others — for the benefit of our common humanity.

The Blockchain Commission suggests that the transformative power of blockchain technology should not be seen as a threat to existing systems of governance; rather, it should be seen as an opportunity for national and international institutions to defend the rights of those they represent, and to accelerate our collective progress towards meeting the United Nations’ Sustainable Development Goals.